Kirksville council rezones Kings Ridge lot to allow MA Bank site; subdivision plat approved

The Kirksville City Council voted to rezone Lot 1 of Block 11 in the Kings Ridge Addition from R-3 multifamily residential district to C-1 local business district and approved the MA Bank minor subdivision, allowing a vacant lot to be combined with adjacent commercial parcels for a planned MA Bank branch.

City staff presented the rezoning as part of a two-part project that includes demolition of an existing structure formerly occupied by Goodguys Auto Glass, combining that parcel with 1302 North Baltimore Street and other adjoining tracts, and creating a parking layout and drive-through access for the proposed bank. Sarah Knight, the planning staff member who presented the rezoning, told the council the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6–0 in favor, with two absences and one abstention. Reid Yardley, code enforcement director, reported the subdivision plat meets city requirements.

The planning staff and project representatives said the site will be reconfigured to provide multiple entrances, including two access points to North Baltimore (Business 63). The bank’s engineer and project representatives told the council the lot will be partially paved for parking and a drive-through and that the currently vacant frontage will be removed and improved. Zach Springer, representing MA Bank, said the developer intends to demolish the existing house and improve the intersection visibility.

Several Kings Ridge residents testified in opposition at the meeting, raising traffic and pedestrian-safety concerns. One resident, who identified himself as Panos and said he has lived in Kings Ridge for 13 years, told the council the subdivision has two entry/exit points and about 58 single-family homes, no sidewalks in places, frequent yard-sale parking on neighborhood streets and existing congestion at morning peak times near the Queens/Crown entrance to Baltimore. Panos asked whether a traffic study or a traffic signal had been considered and said residents provided a petition of opposition and a school-busing statement for the record.

Council members said they heard the resident concerns and noted that the site plan includes two entrances on Baltimore and that the Planning and Zoning public hearing had no attendees. Several council members suggested the city should monitor the intersection if the project proceeds and consider a future traffic study or apply for traffic-safety funding if citizen complaints continue. Council members also noted separate parking issues on Kings Street that predate the project.

The council approved the rezoning and the subdivision on first and then second reading; the clerk read Bill No. 2025-06 (rezoning) and Bill No. 2025-07 (MA Bank subdivision) in sequence, and both passed on second reading. The city clerk recorded the readings and the council voted verbally (aye) for both measures. No roll-call vote counts were read into the record.

The council and staff said the subdivision plat reserves one of the existing Baltimore access points as a travel easement for the adjacent business and that remaining sidewalk construction will be tied to building permits and occupancy permits for homes when those lots are developed.

The decisions mean the bank may proceed with its site plan and the city will finalize plats and easements. Council members asked staff to track neighborhood traffic and to consider follow-up options (traffic study, signage or other mitigations) if congestion or safety complaints continue.

Votes at the meeting on both items were recorded as approved on second reading; the city clerk completed required readings and moved the matters to final action.

A copy of the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation, neighborhood sign-in sheets and the resident petition were submitted to the city clerk and entered into the meeting record.